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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes

Name the landform from its description

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.2-ESS2-2England: KS1 Geography links

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Name the landform from its description.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Land and water on Earth

Leads to: Earth changes: fast or slow?; Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes

Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Land and water on Earth). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. In which form is water found at the top of very high mountains? (only gas / solid ice and snow / there is never water there / only liquid) → solid ice and snowPrompt: It is very cold high up.
  2. About 97.5% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 2.5 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
  3. Which landform is described: fresh water flowing downhill to the sea? (mountain / valley / island / river) → riverPrompt: Is it high land, low land, land in water, or moving water?

Hook · 5 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Name the landform from its description. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which landform is this: a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountain?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: hill
  • Answer: hill
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which landform is this: a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come out? (canyon / peninsula / valley / volcano) → volcanoPrompt: Is it high or low? Flat or steep? Is water around it?
  2. Which description matches a peninsula? (a high, flat area of land with steep sides / a deep, narrow valley with steep rock walls cut by a river / land with water all around it / land with water on three sides) → land with water on three sidesPrompt: Picture the landform from above and from the side.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which description matches a plain? (land with water all around it / a wide, flat area of land / land with water on three sides / low land between hills or mountains, often with a river) → a wide, flat area of landPrompt: Picture the landform from above and from the side.
  2. True or false? An island has water on only one side. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Picture each landform: high, low, flat or surrounded by water?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Land and water on Earth.
  • Use concrete materials: rock samples.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Earth changes: fast or slow?; Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Name the landform from its description

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which landform is this: land with water on three sides?

    • A. mountain
    • B. hill
    • C. plateau
    • D. peninsula

  2. Question 2

    Which description matches a plateau?

    • A. a rounded rise of land, lower than a mountain
    • B. a high, flat area of land with steep sides
    • C. a very high, steep area of land with a peak
    • D. land with water on three sides

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Spain and Italy are peninsulas.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    Which landform is this: a very high, steep area of land with a peak?

    • A. island
    • B. plain
    • C. mountain
    • D. peninsula

  5. Question 5

    Which description matches a mountain?

    • A. low land between hills or mountains, often with a river
    • B. a very high, steep area of land with a peak
    • C. land with water on three sides
    • D. a high, flat area of land with steep sides

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Mountains are higher and steeper than hills.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

    Which landform is this: a mountain with an opening where hot melted rock can come out?

    • A. canyon
    • B. valley
    • C. plain
    • D. volcano

  8. Question 8

    True or false? An island has water on only one side.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Name the landform from its description

  1. 1. D. peninsula

  2. 2. B. a high, flat area of land with steep sides

  3. 3. A. True

  4. 4. C. mountain

  5. 5. B. a very high, steep area of land with a peak

  6. 6. A. True

  7. 7. D. volcano

  8. 8. B. False